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Monthly Archives: January 2012

The Reno, Nevada area has had more than its fair share of tragedies in the past few months. In Late June, an Amtrak train crashed into a truck stuck on train tracks, killing 6, including the truck driver and the train conductor. In September, a three were killed and six were wounded in a shooting at a Carson City IHOP. In mid-September, 11 people were killed when a modified P-51 Mustang crashed during the Reno Air Races.

November and January saw horrific fires race across South Reno. The November Reno fire, caused by arching power lines, destroyed 26 homes, burning 2,000 acres and killing one. In January, 29 homes were destroyed, another person was killed and 4,000 acres were burned. Investigators believe the cause of the fire was improperly disposed of fireplace ashes.

The Reno, Nevada area has responded very well to these tragedies. After each one, hundreds of people donated blood at area hospitals. During the Air Race crash, civilians rushed to aid those injured, providing comfort to and triaging wounded even before first responders arrived. During the Reno fires, evacuation centers at local high schools received donations of blankets, toiletries and more by the thousands. Individuals across the city opened their homes to those displaced by the fires. Even local area hotels offered special rates to individuals who had become homeless due to the fires.

In almost all of these accidents, the responsible individuals and/or companies have been remorseful. And, while many of the individuals whose property was destroyed, have been injured or killed had insurance, it is still important for everyone injured or who has family members killed in a train accident, house fire or airplane crash to retain legal counsel in Northern Nevada personal injury cases. Please contact Benson and Bingham for a free legal consultation today.

Benson and Bingham, while based in Las Vegas, has connections across the State of Nevada which enable them to represent those injured through negligence in Las Vegas or Reno. In 2010, we secured over $10,000,000 in awards for our clients. We pride ourselves on developing long lasting relationships with our clients

Las Vegas and Southern Nevada rely on the Colorado River for its very existence. Without the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, Las Vegas would have significant problems meeting the water needs of the tourists who visit Las Vegas Casinos much less the water needs of the 1.9 million people living in the La s Vegas Metropolitan Area.

Nevada’s largest industry, Las Vegas casino tourism is only possible because of water from the Colorado River and Lake Mead. The second largest industry in Nevada, mining, relies on water for their success as tourism.

However, unregulated mining can have detrimental effects on the surrounding water supply. Often, waste products from the processing of minerals are released. Other times, run off from a mining operation ends up in the water supply, reducing water quality for those down river who consume it.

Because of this, over the years, Nevada’s communities, legislature, cities, counties, mining industry and governors, both Democrat and Republican, took significant steps over the years to improve water quality on the Colorado River, placing significant restrictions on how Nevada’s mining companies dispose of waste water and how they handle run off from their operations. While much of these restrictions and prohibitions have been effective, millions still may have been exposed to poisons, heavy metals and more. If you have been sickened by a mining operation and believe you qualify for reimbursement of health care costs and for lost work in a Nevada personal injury case, contact the lawyers of Benson and Bingham for a free consultation.

Unfortunately, even though Nevada has taken significant water protection safeguards, recent actions by the representatives of neighboring states, Arizona and Utah, who share the Colorado River with the Silver State, potentially endanger Southern Nevada’s water supply. Should the bill pass the United States House of Representatives, Senate and be signed by the President, millions of acres of the Arizona Strip, federal land upriver of Las Vegas, could be opened up to uranium mining. If you or a family member are sickened by heavy metals leached into the water supply due to mining, go to NV-attorney.com and sign up for a free legal consultation.

If you are looking for a Nevada attorney to represent you in a personal injury case, please consider Benson and Bingham. As leading Nevada personal injury attorneys, we can represent you against insurance companies, ensuring you are not taken advantage of.

More then 4,500 O-Grill Portable Gas Grills manufactured by Uni-O industries have been voluntarily recalled due to fire and burn dangers from using the gas grills. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall this month, and owners of the Iroda O-Grill Portable Gas Grills, models 100o and 3000 bought prior to 2010, are advised to stop using the product and return immediately to avoid any risk of fire or burns.

There have already been ten reports of the grills catching on fire, and surely countless others have not submitted a report. The grills are light wait and portable, often used for tailgating or other outdoor events, which often results in not having the same safety equipment individuals would have if grilling at home. This increases the risk of burn injury or fires spreading due to the absence of fire extinguisher or other safety gear to alleviate fire hazards.

The greatest issue w/ the grills is the absence of ventilator slots in the regulator cover between the grill and propane tanks, either a one pound or ten pound propane tank that attaches to the grill. If you have been injured by an Iroda O-Grill gas grill, please contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission and consider taking legal action through a qualified personal injury attorney.

Walgreens, REI, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Dillards, LLBean, and BBQG are a few of the retailers that sold the grill between November, 2008 and December, 2010. The product was manufactured in China and retailed for $149 for the 1000 Iroda O-Grill or $189 for the 3000 Iroda O-Grill. Uni-O offers a free replacement grill to owners of the above grill and are advised to immediately contact them toll-free at (888) 847-8968 to prohibit the risks of burns or fire.

Benson & Bingham understand the risks of fire and burn injury from consumer products such as grills, space heaters, fans and other products manufactured at home or abroad. Nevadans that believe they have been injured due to a malfunctioning or poorly built consumer product can contact our Las Vegas, NV attorneys for a free consultation by emailing or calling us at 702-382-9797.

December 14, 2011 in Midtown, New York an advertising executive was killed when she stepped onto a malfunctioning elevator that lurched up when she stepped in prior to the doors closing. This caused her body to wedge between the floor of the elevator and door entrance frame. Last year in New York alone, there were 53 accidents with 3 fatalities. This sudden surge by the elevator crushed her body, and the investigation continues. It is believed the elevator was old and many violations were issued in recent years.

Las Vegas continues to have major modern fleet of elevators given the new construction, however the elevators are not immune to problems especially in the older hotels and casinos. Benson & Bingham is a Nevada leader in elevator accidents.